Deutsche Welle Starts Master’s Program for ‘International Media Studies’

Deutsche Welle (DW) has officially started its Master’s Program for International Media Studies in Bonn. Erik Bettermann, DW Director General, welcomed the first 22 students from 13 different countries, who were also greeted by Erich Stather, State Secretary of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the State Secretary, Commissioner for Federal and European Affairs and the Media for North Rhine-Westphalia, Michael Mertes. DW received nearly 700 applications from around the world. The four-semester, bilingual program is a joint project with the University of Bonn, Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences and Deutsche Welle.

“Two-thirds of people around the world live in countries without complete freedom of the press,” said Bettermann. “Independent and non-partisan media is essential for promoting democracy and civil society. That requires journalists who are well-trained and able to handle the challenges of their occupation in the digital age. In many developing and transitional countries, there aren’t any possibilities for journalists to receive proper training. The new Master’s Program should help to close this gap.” Bettermann emphasized that this cooperation between DW and the two universities was unique – with its range of topics and its structure.

“The goal of this program is to train well-rounded journalists who can work as communicators and ‘change agents’ in the development process,” said Stather. “Their task will be to have a sense for relevant topics, to be part of the debate and to sensitize people in their homeland to global issues, like we do here, as well as halting development politicians and searching for possible solutions to local and global problems.” Stather went on to say that there is a need for more public support for sustainable development and that media plays a huge role in this regard.

Mertes emphasized the importance of fostering creativity in this profession. “Ideas and creativity will be the most important assets in the 21st century, because creativity creates growth,” he said. “In the globally-connected, knowledge-based society, only countries, regions and cities that can attract and hold on to intelligence will prosper in the future. That’s why creativity has to be the hallmark of North Rhine-Westphalia. Projects like the new International Media Studies program are important building blocks for that.”

Bettermann said that the program would offer a “unique combination of theory and practice, and of research with journalistic know-how.” He noted that Deutsche Welle ensures this sort of environment not only through its multilingual and multimedia offering, but also through the DW-AKADEMIE: an international training institute with more than 40 years of experience in teaching journalists, business leaders and media managers from developing nations. Bettermann added that the media would be studied with respect to law and ethics, economics, teaching, management techniques and journalistic practice. The objective, according to Bettermann, is that the foreign graduates of the program will be able to return to their homeland and be more competitive candidates for leadership positions.

A significant level of interest

Out of the nearly 700 applications from throughout the world, the most – more than 100 – stemmed from Brazil, along with 40 from Russia, 28 from Pakistan, 17 from Kenya, 15 from China, and ten each from Ethiopia, Egypt and Armenia. The prospective students learned of the program by way of the Internet and partner universities and colleges, as well as institutions like the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Goethe Institute, the Society for Technical Cooperation, the Credit Institute for Reconstruction, and other political agencies.

Through an intensive selection process, 22 students were invited for participation in the M.A. program. The participants come from Ethiopia, Portugal, Brazil, Russia, China, Serbia, the Ukraine, Georgia, Venezuela, Jordan, Vietnam and Kenya. In addition, six Germans were admitted. The average student age is 26, and the students possessed a college degree and evidence of media competence, alongside having international experience and mastery of both German and English.

Renowned instructors from Germany and abroad

A university degree, as recognized by German standards, was required for admission in addition to at least one year of work experience in the field of media. The students were also required to demonstrate their proficiency in German and English, typically by completing recognized language exams in their home countries. After four successful semesters of study, the title “Master of Arts” (M.A.) will be conferred to the graduates.

Deutsche Welle and its partner universities reached agreement on questions concerning the expectations of students and teachers in the program – for example, with respect to the curriculum, test material, (re-) accreditation, evaluation, selection of teaching personnel and students and testing regulations.

Deutsche Welle created the concept for the master’s program. The program faculty will consist of renowned professors and instructors from Germany and abroad as well as employees from the broadcaster. The courses will take place on-site at the Deutsche Welle headquarters and at other locations. In order to effectively blend education with praxis, a newsroom, a radio station and a practice TV studio have been set up for the students.

The program is financed with the support of the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Tuition for each student totals 6,000 euros for the entire program. However, applications from developing nations were able to seek one of the 11 full scholarships offered by the BMZ. The scholarships cover not only tuition but also living expenses and a room in a dormitory. For other applicants, reduced scholarships were also available.

Those interested in participating in the program should send their written applications to Deutsche Welle by May 31 each year.